Meaning & use
causal factor
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
Something that contributes to causing a particular result or situation, often among several influences.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a causal factor' or 'causal factors'. Often followed by 'in' or 'behind': a causal factor in the decline.
Patterns
- a causal factor in something
- a causal factor behind something
- one of the causal factors
Poor diet is a major causal factor in many chronic diseases.
Researchers identified several causal factors behind the economic downturn.
Smoking is a well-known causal factor for lung cancer.
Word forms
| plural | causal factors |
|---|
Common combinations
- a major causal factor
- Lack of sleep is a major causal factor in workplace accidents.
- a causal factor in
- Genetics can be a causal factor in some mental health conditions.
- identify causal factors
- The report tried to identify the causal factors of the fire.
- underlying causal factor
- Poverty is often an underlying causal factor in crime.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cause
- Stronger and more direct; 'cause' often suggests the main or sole reason, while 'causal factor' suggests one of several contributors.
- contributing factor
- Very close in meaning, but 'contributing factor' is more common in everyday and legal contexts and does not always imply direct causation.
- determinant
- More formal and often used in social science; it can mean a factor that decisively influences an outcome.
Word family
Commonly confused: causal factor or casual?
causal factor vs casual
Sounds similar but means relaxed or informal. 'Causal' relates to cause; 'casual' relates to a lack of formality.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'causal factor' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Causal factor' means something that contributes to a result, so 'a lack of funding was a causal factor in the project's failure' fits. The other options confuse it with 'casual' or use it as a verb, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “causal factor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.